Merry Christmas everybody. My Dad got a new hat on Christmas Eve and he looks pretty snazzy in it. Of course, I think I look pretty good too, don't you? I'm not sure he wants to wear it much, though, and I think he might get even with the friend who gave it to him. I kind of like it.
We had a lot of people here last night. Several of the neighbors and lots of family, and my friend Micah came. That was fun, but he got a little nervous with all the people. When he gets nervous, he starts slamming himself against the basement windows. He got in trouble a lot.
Of course, he didn't get in as much trouble as my friend Baron. He's a Cocker Spaniel across the street, who knocked their Christmas tree over and pooped on the floor because his family came to visit us. I can't imagine getting in THAT much trouble.
Micah also snarled and barked at Baron's Mom last night at our house. Wow, MY Mom was on him like white on rice and backed him up with her "Mommy Voice." I'll bet he never does that again. I think he wanted a sip of Eldora's wine, but all she wanted to do was pet him. What he gets for begging from the wrong person.
All in all, though, it was fun. I played witt Micah outside while my Diva friend Riley sulked in the garage. She really doesn't like to make friends with dogs. She's ok with people. What's up with that?
At any rate, I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas. We had a great time here. And I got to vacuum the floor afterwards for all the pieces of food leftover. THAT was excellent.I love Christmas!
Red Dog
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Play Time
Yesterday one of my cousins dropped by for a visit. My Dad's granddaughters and Mom brought their dog Micah over to stay while they went Christmas tree hunting in the snow. I would have liked to go, but there wasn't enough room in the truck. I think Mom and Dad need a great BIG 4 wheel drive so all of us can sneak off to the mountains. But that's just me.
Anyway, Micah is kind of hyper. He's a nice kid, just barely a year old, black and white and very skinny. He's some sort of cross between a border collie and crazy. Riley Sue is a border collie too. But she's a diva- and not very friendly to bouncy dogs. While he visited, she just stared at him from across the room. I think she wanted to herd him somewhere out of the house and off the property permanently.
Me, I found his youth exhilarating! We wrestled and chased each other and wrestled some more. He tried to run between my legs, but high centered and rolled over upside down. We had a great time. I'm almost 11 years old, and for the few hours he was here I felt like a puppy again. Of course, all that workout made my hind end sore, so I paid for it after he left. But what fun we had!
You know- dogs need to play and get exercise. In the winter like this when it's too dangerous for humans to walk on the ice, we still need exercise. Micah was a creative way to give it.
People need exercise too- and play. Humans are way too serious sometimes and forget to have fun. They work and work and don't stop to just goof off. It's healthy to rest and have fun. For dogs and people. So everyone take some time out this holiday season to enjoy yourself! And be sure to make sure your sidekicks the animals get to enjoy that time with you!
Anyway, Micah is kind of hyper. He's a nice kid, just barely a year old, black and white and very skinny. He's some sort of cross between a border collie and crazy. Riley Sue is a border collie too. But she's a diva- and not very friendly to bouncy dogs. While he visited, she just stared at him from across the room. I think she wanted to herd him somewhere out of the house and off the property permanently.
Me, I found his youth exhilarating! We wrestled and chased each other and wrestled some more. He tried to run between my legs, but high centered and rolled over upside down. We had a great time. I'm almost 11 years old, and for the few hours he was here I felt like a puppy again. Of course, all that workout made my hind end sore, so I paid for it after he left. But what fun we had!
You know- dogs need to play and get exercise. In the winter like this when it's too dangerous for humans to walk on the ice, we still need exercise. Micah was a creative way to give it.
People need exercise too- and play. Humans are way too serious sometimes and forget to have fun. They work and work and don't stop to just goof off. It's healthy to rest and have fun. For dogs and people. So everyone take some time out this holiday season to enjoy yourself! And be sure to make sure your sidekicks the animals get to enjoy that time with you!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saving Humans
There are all sorts of working dogs out there who are trained to help humans: service dogs, guard dogs, bomb sniffing dogs, drug sniffing dogs, herding dogs, etc. But there are a few of us that just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Take yesterday, for example.
I took Mom for her daily HHW in the snow. It has been snowing around here for several days and it's getting pretty deep in some places. The county plowed our roads, but then it snowed about 4 inches on top of it, so now it's a big sheet of ice with frosting on it. I have 4-paw drive and even I had trouble staying upright. (Mom's friend Nick calls it "staying vertical.")
As we turned a perfectly level corner on the last leg of our walk, Mom fell on her knees. I'm not sure of human anatomy, but I have heard that their knees are pretty vulnerable to damage at her age. (Sorry Mom). I thought she was going to pass out for a minute, so I just pushed up against her and sat down beside her in the snowbank. She used my back to push herself up, then I pulled her forward with the leash and we made it home just fine!
Later she said something about not being able to get up without me. That felt good. If I can't herd sheep, at least I can herd people.The point is, my human friends, if you treat your dogs right, they'll be there for you. Of course, tiny dogs would have a little trouble being used as a bench to push up from, but they can bark and go get help. In essence, nearly all of us are "working dogs" in some fashion.Even if all we do is give you humans a place to lower your blood pressure be petting us, it's still work.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and didn't give too many treats to my cousins!
I took Mom for her daily HHW in the snow. It has been snowing around here for several days and it's getting pretty deep in some places. The county plowed our roads, but then it snowed about 4 inches on top of it, so now it's a big sheet of ice with frosting on it. I have 4-paw drive and even I had trouble staying upright. (Mom's friend Nick calls it "staying vertical.")
As we turned a perfectly level corner on the last leg of our walk, Mom fell on her knees. I'm not sure of human anatomy, but I have heard that their knees are pretty vulnerable to damage at her age. (Sorry Mom). I thought she was going to pass out for a minute, so I just pushed up against her and sat down beside her in the snowbank. She used my back to push herself up, then I pulled her forward with the leash and we made it home just fine!
Later she said something about not being able to get up without me. That felt good. If I can't herd sheep, at least I can herd people.The point is, my human friends, if you treat your dogs right, they'll be there for you. Of course, tiny dogs would have a little trouble being used as a bench to push up from, but they can bark and go get help. In essence, nearly all of us are "working dogs" in some fashion.Even if all we do is give you humans a place to lower your blood pressure be petting us, it's still work.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and didn't give too many treats to my cousins!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Snow Day
Well, today was a snow day. I love snow. It was up to my tail by the end of the day, with a blizzard warning in effect (according to Mom's computer)for tonight. I suspect by tomorrow it's going to be a humdinger. Thank goodness I don't get cold much. I have lots of fur. Riley, on the other hand, gets crazy in the snow.I"m pretty sure she's cold, but you'd never know it by watching her.
Today she played every time she saw snow. If Dad shoveled it, she jumped and attacked it until her face looked like she had taken a dive into a flour bin. If Auntie Allison walked and kicked it a little, she thought it was a game.By the time they got back from their walk, Riley was so exhausted she could hardly walk and then STILL wanted to play in the snow. She's a little nuts. Cute, but nuts.
Me, I can only take so much. I love the snow. Mom and I walked today too, and I ate a lot of snow. It tasted great 'cause it was fresh like a snowcone!I like to play snowshovel too. I like to lie down in it. I do not like to have to walk through it to go potty. It's a chore to take my big body through the deep snow and try to find a spot where my backside doesn't drag the doodies back to the house with me. Mom really doesn't like that. Thankfully, today, Dad used the snowblower to swamp out a spot for Riley and me. I have the best owner (Dad) in the world!
You know, snow is one of those things to be thankful for. It's pretty, it's fun, it covers the plants so they don't die in the winter, and it's white. What would happen if snow was brown or black? Disaster, that's what. It makes everything so q-u-i-e-t, too. I love that part. It doesn't keep Riley from howling, however. There appears to be nothing I can do about that.
Today she played every time she saw snow. If Dad shoveled it, she jumped and attacked it until her face looked like she had taken a dive into a flour bin. If Auntie Allison walked and kicked it a little, she thought it was a game.By the time they got back from their walk, Riley was so exhausted she could hardly walk and then STILL wanted to play in the snow. She's a little nuts. Cute, but nuts.
Me, I can only take so much. I love the snow. Mom and I walked today too, and I ate a lot of snow. It tasted great 'cause it was fresh like a snowcone!I like to play snowshovel too. I like to lie down in it. I do not like to have to walk through it to go potty. It's a chore to take my big body through the deep snow and try to find a spot where my backside doesn't drag the doodies back to the house with me. Mom really doesn't like that. Thankfully, today, Dad used the snowblower to swamp out a spot for Riley and me. I have the best owner (Dad) in the world!
You know, snow is one of those things to be thankful for. It's pretty, it's fun, it covers the plants so they don't die in the winter, and it's white. What would happen if snow was brown or black? Disaster, that's what. It makes everything so q-u-i-e-t, too. I love that part. It doesn't keep Riley from howling, however. There appears to be nothing I can do about that.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Human Health Walks
Today I took my Mom on an HHW- a Human Health Walk. We don't go as often as we should; I think she's a little chicken when it comes to bad weather (but don't tell her I said so). If humans understood how important dogs are to their health, they would take all of us dogs out of the shelters!
Today we visited Black Bay park in Post Falls, where we could walk by the Spokane River on a nice walking path. Mom thought it was cold, but it wasn't really. It was snowing, though. I LOVE snow. (The first winter I lived here, they took a picture of me in a snowstorm. I looked pretty snazzy in a heavy white iced overcoat. People don't know what they're missing by staying indoors during snow days). And nose-snow shoveling is really fun! If they only knew.
That park has GREAT smells, by the way. Lots of dogs are walked there, and some even run loose. I once met a couple of labrador retrievers that were a little out of control, but I made sure Mom didn't start any trouble.
Of course, the walk is really for Mom's benefit. SHE needs it. I wouldn't want her to become a diabetic like me. Both of us getting a needle stab in the morning and evening would not be good.
Anyway, today we saw some giant ducks. Mom says they were "Mallards"- I mean they were really really BIG! I wanted to chase them so bad, but Mom wouldn't let me. It would have been great exercise for her, but for some reason she wasn't as excited as I was about it. Maybe she has cut her calorie count down far enough today that she doesn't need the extra calorie-burn. Who knows?
Speaking of walks- I was proud of my neighbor friend Keisha the Malamute last night. She finally took her human for a walk. I was beginning to think their health was in jeopardy. That would be very bad!
At any rate, all of my doggy cousins out there remember: take your human for a walk daily. Even if it's snowing. We must take good care of our families!
Today we visited Black Bay park in Post Falls, where we could walk by the Spokane River on a nice walking path. Mom thought it was cold, but it wasn't really. It was snowing, though. I LOVE snow. (The first winter I lived here, they took a picture of me in a snowstorm. I looked pretty snazzy in a heavy white iced overcoat. People don't know what they're missing by staying indoors during snow days). And nose-snow shoveling is really fun! If they only knew.
That park has GREAT smells, by the way. Lots of dogs are walked there, and some even run loose. I once met a couple of labrador retrievers that were a little out of control, but I made sure Mom didn't start any trouble.
Of course, the walk is really for Mom's benefit. SHE needs it. I wouldn't want her to become a diabetic like me. Both of us getting a needle stab in the morning and evening would not be good.
Anyway, today we saw some giant ducks. Mom says they were "Mallards"- I mean they were really really BIG! I wanted to chase them so bad, but Mom wouldn't let me. It would have been great exercise for her, but for some reason she wasn't as excited as I was about it. Maybe she has cut her calorie count down far enough today that she doesn't need the extra calorie-burn. Who knows?
Speaking of walks- I was proud of my neighbor friend Keisha the Malamute last night. She finally took her human for a walk. I was beginning to think their health was in jeopardy. That would be very bad!
At any rate, all of my doggy cousins out there remember: take your human for a walk daily. Even if it's snowing. We must take good care of our families!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Vacuum Cleaner Salesmen
My poor Mom. She thought a young man was an "environmental specialist." That's what vacuum cleaner salesmen tell you they are these days. He told her they were coming to tell her what was in her air. Yep, I coulda told her. I know what's in her air. Hair from me and my friend Riley Sue.
They came stomping into the house with their fancy machines and sales pitch. You shoulda seen my Dad. He glowered. Mom wanted to cry. Who can afford $4000 for a vacuum cleaner? They kept showing her all the dirt in her house (not like she didn't already know it was there). She offered to let them vacuum us dogs, but they weren't interested, for some odd reason. I bet I could have fixed their fancy machine. If it would have vacuumed me without falling apart, it would have been great indeed!
Sales pitches are filled with dumb questions. It's like they think the homeowners or the women are stupid. My Mom isn't stupid. She just got duped into the appointment by lies from the company. They weren't "environmental experts" coming to "test the air for particles", they were vacuum cleaner salesmen. What a racket!
A lot of humans get sucked into these things all the time. People lie. Dogs are honest, by the way. If we don't like you we say so. If we want something, we beg. We don't waste your time with lies.
Just because someone lives in a fancy neighborhood doesn't mean that they are rich. Those guys pushing on my parents to buy something just made them feel bad.They said no and shoo-ed the guys out of the house.
I hope I'm in the house the next time someone tries tomake my folks buy something they can't afford. I'll remember to bite them for general principle.
They came stomping into the house with their fancy machines and sales pitch. You shoulda seen my Dad. He glowered. Mom wanted to cry. Who can afford $4000 for a vacuum cleaner? They kept showing her all the dirt in her house (not like she didn't already know it was there). She offered to let them vacuum us dogs, but they weren't interested, for some odd reason. I bet I could have fixed their fancy machine. If it would have vacuumed me without falling apart, it would have been great indeed!
Sales pitches are filled with dumb questions. It's like they think the homeowners or the women are stupid. My Mom isn't stupid. She just got duped into the appointment by lies from the company. They weren't "environmental experts" coming to "test the air for particles", they were vacuum cleaner salesmen. What a racket!
A lot of humans get sucked into these things all the time. People lie. Dogs are honest, by the way. If we don't like you we say so. If we want something, we beg. We don't waste your time with lies.
Just because someone lives in a fancy neighborhood doesn't mean that they are rich. Those guys pushing on my parents to buy something just made them feel bad.They said no and shoo-ed the guys out of the house.
I hope I'm in the house the next time someone tries tomake my folks buy something they can't afford. I'll remember to bite them for general principle.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Diabetes
Some kinds of diabetes require insulin injections every day. Animals are the best example. I have to have 36 units every morning and night. Normally Mom gets up and gives me the shot then goes back to bed. Something went wrong this morning and she didn't get up at her usual time. I was starting to worry a little bit when Dad showed up and took care of it.
(Sometimes other people are a little heavy handed on the needle- Mom is very gentle. Oh, well, at least I'm alive to complain about it.)
I only get dog food these days, and way fewer treats than I used to get. And no gravy or grease. I miss those. Eating table scraps probably got me in this position, but there's a genetic factor too.
You people out there need to know that diabetes is no fun at all. Sometimes I don't run up stairs very well, and sometimes too long a walk makes me ill. Mom hates it if I throw up on her rugs. She's never yelled at me for it, but she isn't too happy about it. I can tell by her face.
Diabetes also affects my teeth and breath ( I can knock people over with the nasty smell from my mouth). And my vision and hearing aren't as good as they used to be. Mom gives me Lutein sometimes to help my eyes, but I'm pretty sure they're fading a little. And she brushes my teeth a lot to keep me from losing them. Mom prays for me all the time.
One day we were out walking with Aunt Allison and Riley Sue. It was a great time, walking through the alfalfa field. But we went too far and it was hot out. By the time I got home, I was really sick. Diabetes really messes with stamina, both for people and dogs. Point is, to all of you humans out there, stop feeding sweets and human food to your dog!
The other day I saw a fat Jack Russell terrier! They're so hyper it's hard for them to get fat, so the owner must be feeding him a lot of treats. Cut it out! Diabetes is no fun! I am living longer than they said because Mom loves me and takes good care of me...but please take better care of my cousins ok?
(Sometimes other people are a little heavy handed on the needle- Mom is very gentle. Oh, well, at least I'm alive to complain about it.)
I only get dog food these days, and way fewer treats than I used to get. And no gravy or grease. I miss those. Eating table scraps probably got me in this position, but there's a genetic factor too.
You people out there need to know that diabetes is no fun at all. Sometimes I don't run up stairs very well, and sometimes too long a walk makes me ill. Mom hates it if I throw up on her rugs. She's never yelled at me for it, but she isn't too happy about it. I can tell by her face.
Diabetes also affects my teeth and breath ( I can knock people over with the nasty smell from my mouth). And my vision and hearing aren't as good as they used to be. Mom gives me Lutein sometimes to help my eyes, but I'm pretty sure they're fading a little. And she brushes my teeth a lot to keep me from losing them. Mom prays for me all the time.
One day we were out walking with Aunt Allison and Riley Sue. It was a great time, walking through the alfalfa field. But we went too far and it was hot out. By the time I got home, I was really sick. Diabetes really messes with stamina, both for people and dogs. Point is, to all of you humans out there, stop feeding sweets and human food to your dog!
The other day I saw a fat Jack Russell terrier! They're so hyper it's hard for them to get fat, so the owner must be feeding him a lot of treats. Cut it out! Diabetes is no fun! I am living longer than they said because Mom loves me and takes good care of me...but please take better care of my cousins ok?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Divas
My friend Riley is such a fox, but sometimes she is just plain noisy. She has never learned that to get attention, all you have to do is stare at the human. Look pathetic. Look sad or hungry or lonely. You don't even have to put your paw on their leg- just look at them and they melt all over everything. But Riley?
No, Riley is a Diva. She is vocal. She wants attention so she howls. (I suspect that my Dad is the problem there, as he loves to hear her howl.Sheesh).
If she can't get the howl to work, she scratches the human's legs with her paws. She'll get the ball even if it's out of reach and she won't stop until someone tells her to. She's very smart, but my goodness she's obsessed. When she's outside and wants back in, she scratches at the door. She's a Diva, plain and simple.
Me, I just roll over and they scratch my belly without all the falderal.And Mom likes me in the house, so all I have to do is stare at the door and she opens it. Easy, right?
You know, if you think about it, humans aren't much different than dogs, but way more destructive. When a human is a diva, they don't scratch on the door, they scratch other people. They are so prideful that they hurt each other with words and actions. A little humility would be nice there.
At least Riley never hurts anyone. (Well except the time she bit me when I tried to steal her rawhide chew. Hey! She left it lying around on the floor. What's a guy to do?)
No, Riley is a Diva. She is vocal. She wants attention so she howls. (I suspect that my Dad is the problem there, as he loves to hear her howl.Sheesh).
If she can't get the howl to work, she scratches the human's legs with her paws. She'll get the ball even if it's out of reach and she won't stop until someone tells her to. She's very smart, but my goodness she's obsessed. When she's outside and wants back in, she scratches at the door. She's a Diva, plain and simple.
Me, I just roll over and they scratch my belly without all the falderal.And Mom likes me in the house, so all I have to do is stare at the door and she opens it. Easy, right?
You know, if you think about it, humans aren't much different than dogs, but way more destructive. When a human is a diva, they don't scratch on the door, they scratch other people. They are so prideful that they hurt each other with words and actions. A little humility would be nice there.
At least Riley never hurts anyone. (Well except the time she bit me when I tried to steal her rawhide chew. Hey! She left it lying around on the floor. What's a guy to do?)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Pleased to Meet You!
My name is Red Dog. I will be writing this blog to encourage you each week. Ok, my Mom will write it for me, as my paws on a keyboard are a little sloppy. She also says I drool on the keys, which messes up the computer. So she's going to do the typing.
The other day I did something very unusual. My Aunt Allison said she couldn't believe it when I actually barked at someone who came to the front door. I'm pretty easy-going normally and wouldn't hurt a fly. So I thought I'd let my family know why I sounded so gruff.
Great Pyrenees are bred as protectors of the flock. It's in my genes.And I know all of the sound of the regulars who come to the door. Most of the time I sleep through that stuff because Mom and Dad do the protecting at my house. My friend Riley Sue lives with us- she's a red colored border collie and not very good at protecting either. (She's pretty foxy, though.) So sometimes I have to keep a watchful eye. (But I refuse to go swimming, Riley, so I'll watch, you swim-- Unless you get in trouble, then I'm on it.)
The other day a new mailman came. He wasn't the usual guy (the normal guy Lou is really a nice man and I like him). This one had a different smell. His energy wasn't very good. And instead of using the doorbell, he just dumped a package at the front door and left. It was all very unsettling. So I barked. Really, I would protect the family if necessary. I just prefer to be a lover.
Riley and I went to the groomers the other day. Mom says we smell good now. It's important to have good hygiene, I guess. Although a fresh roll in some dead fish guts would be great once in a while. Mom won't let us do that. I don't know why.
You can ask me questions, or if you have a problem, I'm here to help.I have lots of experience in things. I was abandoned at the dog pound in Spokane, and it just so happened that my parents were searching for a new dog that day. So I got lucky. Many of my relatives aren't so fortunate.
So I'm all about redemption and rescue.
The other day I did something very unusual. My Aunt Allison said she couldn't believe it when I actually barked at someone who came to the front door. I'm pretty easy-going normally and wouldn't hurt a fly. So I thought I'd let my family know why I sounded so gruff.
Great Pyrenees are bred as protectors of the flock. It's in my genes.And I know all of the sound of the regulars who come to the door. Most of the time I sleep through that stuff because Mom and Dad do the protecting at my house. My friend Riley Sue lives with us- she's a red colored border collie and not very good at protecting either. (She's pretty foxy, though.) So sometimes I have to keep a watchful eye. (But I refuse to go swimming, Riley, so I'll watch, you swim-- Unless you get in trouble, then I'm on it.)
The other day a new mailman came. He wasn't the usual guy (the normal guy Lou is really a nice man and I like him). This one had a different smell. His energy wasn't very good. And instead of using the doorbell, he just dumped a package at the front door and left. It was all very unsettling. So I barked. Really, I would protect the family if necessary. I just prefer to be a lover.
Riley and I went to the groomers the other day. Mom says we smell good now. It's important to have good hygiene, I guess. Although a fresh roll in some dead fish guts would be great once in a while. Mom won't let us do that. I don't know why.
You can ask me questions, or if you have a problem, I'm here to help.I have lots of experience in things. I was abandoned at the dog pound in Spokane, and it just so happened that my parents were searching for a new dog that day. So I got lucky. Many of my relatives aren't so fortunate.
So I'm all about redemption and rescue.
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